To ask: what could Extinction Rebellion do to convince you?

[WallyWallyWally]

So another series of XR stunts unfolded today: a tree surgeon climbs Big Ben and unfurls a banner. Some other activists have chained themselves to the door of the Kenyan embassy. A big wooden tipi has been constructed to block Oxford Circus. In the crowds, people have been painting their hands red and are leaving handprints on pavements to symbolise... something.

They’ve camped out in public places. Climbed on top of trains and planes Performed various theatrical performances. They’ve marched and glued themselves to buildings. Held up traffic, waved banners, got kids to stay off school.

What XR want Is: for governments to declare a climate emergency, for actions to be taken to address this and for citizens assemblies to be set up to decide what these actions should be.

I’m not arguing about the science of climate heating (I’m convinced). I’m not asking them not to be hypocrites (it’s impossible to live a truly green lifestyle within our society as it is).

So: what could XR do to convince you of the right-ness of their cause? What action should they take? What campaigns / stunts / awareness raising can they do that would convince you that the house is on fire? To the extent that you would lobby your MP / campaign / join them?

I already lobby and campaign, and have been doing so for years. There's nothing XR could do to convince me to join them because I don't support them. Their arguments and demands are woolly. They're undermining the cause as much as promoting it. They're self-centred and egotistic thinking no-one else has done anything because they're too lazy to learn the history of the movement they claim to represent.
They represent everything that is wrong with modern activism - bereft of context; no appreciation of history; no knowledge of alliances and a worrying lack of eloquent, educated spokespersons.

Nothing. Stunts put me off completely and I think they look like idiots. They come across as professional protesters to me and will move on to the next cause when that comes along.

Public transport is the best way of moving a mass of people around and they stop it by gluing themselves to a train. That's actually pretty selfish!

I agree they are coming across as idiots. I suppose I would be more moved if documentaries showing the real effect of all this were broadcast (or maybe newspaper features etc) rather than people causing a nuisance of themselves and attention seeking,

@KatyCarrCan

What do you do when you lobby and campaign? Is it working?

Again like others nothing. I have no idea why they are seen as some kind of heroic, knights in shining armour coming to tell us what we are doing wrong.

Silly stunts whilst a large number are claiming lots in 'expenses'.

However they are acting as a fantastic distraction for BJ and his current ways.

@Notthetoothfairy
So you would like to see the predictions of the scientific community explained in a more accessible way? Maybe an climate heating version of the Blue Planet - showing the impacts on animals, plants and human communities ?

Change the science. I worked in a lab dealing with climate change research and the whole industry relied on doomsday predictions to maintain funding. I don’t know what to believe but I know that there is no room for discussion with the climate change zealots.

Until I see something convincing me things have changed I won’t change my lifestyle. Climates change, people adapt.

The last few interviews I've seen with ER have been utter cringe- fests. They should start by ensuring the people they send on tv to represent them have been properly prepared

I have zero time for them. There have always been anti-establishment crusties and this is the latest bandwagon going. The scientists And experts make me sit up and listen above anyone else and I agree a big bbc/Attenborough documentary would be amazing to get the message across. XR are just alienating the average hard working person from the cause and doing more harm than good if you ask me.

Their whole ethos of supporting climate awareness is valid.

Their methods are not are they are fast becoming a vast mob of anarchists who dangerous, public nuisances who’s own sense of self important entitlement supersedes any valid points they have. Their right not protest is not more important than people feeding their children, tending to the sick and functioning in their lives.

Quite frankly I’m heartily sick of them.

The only thing that has annoyed me more was the patronising tone of the celebrity letter saying do as I say not as I do.

Nothing

I'm convinced we're in a climate emergency but I'm also convinced we can't do anything about it. A fatalist outlook yes but to stop the effects of climate change requires a break-neck societal shift and we've seen how something comparatively smaller like brexit has gone.

We've run out of time.

Absolutely nothing

No more stunts. No more yoga. No more dancing. Reasoned, consistent, coherent arguments. No hypocrisy.

Their right not protest is not more important than people feeding their children, tending to the sick and functioning in their lives.

I think this is a huge sticking point for a lot of people, and XR have not addressed it at all. xRs point is «the house is on fire - nothing is as important as this! (Not poverty, inequality, indigenous rights - nothing). Everyone else’s point is - yes, I’d like to tackle climate warming but actually poverty, crappy wages, unsafe working conditions, racism, etc etc are actually quite important to me right now!

As long as they stay away from tubes, trains and planes I am happy for them to continue. Climate change has become a topic on news programs and politics shows since they started, if nothing else I support them for that reason

Convince me of what?

What exactly are they trying to convince people

Growing up there used to be old men in town with placards saying things like The End Is Nigh

This is like a big get together of these type of people

Also, being an old gimmer I have seen very similar protests in the past but about different subjects (people living in trees trying to stop a road being built, for example). Didn't work then, won't work now.

Reasoned, consistent, coherent arguments.

That’s not their aim: they tell us to listen to the scientists. What would convince you to do that?

People will get behind campaigns without all this. Look at how many people are boycotting palm oil and they didn't need XR
to persuade them. I can see riots erupting in London soon when all this Brexit shit hits the fan and with XR are acting the way they are. People who just fancy a bit of rioting will join in soon and it'll get out of control.

Stop doing stupid stunts and make some realistic suggestions about what we're actually supposed to do.

All I know about them is that they like to cause trouble, their message is completely lost. What is it that they actually want people to campaign/write to their MPs about?

I probably agree with what their underlying message is on the environment, but I'm not sure because they don't bother putting that across. It just seems to be 'do something', but what can be done that is reasonable, and won't cost people what they can't afford.

Stop. All they are doing is winding everyone up, this country already does far more than others. They should take their whole rebellion to the USA, China or India or any other country not doing so much

In fact the more they go on the less I am going to do now, that’s how much they piss me off

@Oliversmumsarmy

So you don’t believe that The End Is Nigh? You aren’t convinced by the science?

Incidentally @WallyWallyWally are YOU a supporter of XR? Are you a secret spokesperson finally listening to what others think?

Nothing. They look little silly middle class kids. They dont need to work to pay the bills and feed their kids